The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-07

have often wondered in my sim plicity
why it was that SO few of the human
family understood these principles?
Why so few were willing to give ear
thereto, and why they felt, as rule, in
regard to them as they do. This, to
me, as il has been, no doubt to many
others, matter of surprise.
| feel, my brethren and sisters, that we
have, indeed, cause for rejoicing in re
gard TO these matters, that our minds
have been willing and ready to accept
of these truths (if they are truths) and
We claim that they are, and to seek as
far as practicable to direct our lives in
accordance herewith. This, to me, is
| matter OF great satisfaction, that
during my life, which has not been very
! long, | have never, at any time, been
taught by the elders of the church, any
principle but what was sustained
| By the Scriptures of divine truth.
[ have never been taught any
principle save what has been sus-
tanned by natural law; correct, so far
as that is concerned, in every sense of
the word. The primary principles of
the gOspe lead Us step by step, degree
by degree, up the plane, aud put us in
position that, if we will fully and
thoroughly obey them, there is no need
of otfense against anyone, in any sense
of the word. They teach the principles
of simplicity, love, forebearance,
charity, consideration.
THEY TEACH US THE LAWS OF MORALITY.
They inspire US with love for our
fellow men and instruct us in the
good that we do, or could do, to
ourselves and others, and 1 under
stand that this is the character
of the gospel. It is true, that some
times in the heat of argument, pos
si6ly, and in a desire to carry our
points in reasoning upon a subject. we
may not be so careful, circumspect
and cautious as we sometimes should
in considering the feelings of others in
regard 20 their faith. In the sendiLg
forth OF the Elders of this church in the
early times, instructions were given to
them that they should go among the
world; that they were to preach the
gospel; thar they were to bear witness
of the restoration of the same; that
they were to avoid confusion and dis
putations; that they were to avoid
giving otfense in any way against their
tellOWmen; that they were to leave the
religions of other people alone,
only so far as might be necessary
for the PRONUNCIATION of the doctrine of
the gospel, which they were sometimes
required to refer to by way OF compari
son. | believe that in too many instan-
ces we have assumed an attitude that
even our own faith has not warranted,
in making assaults on the teachings Of
others. thai possibly we should not
have done, by being carried away by
zeal, lack of wisdom, and forgetting the
methods by and through which CONVEX
sions were to be brought upon The
children OF men-viZ., by explaining the
principles Of the gospel and bringing
home to the hearts of men knowledge
of those principles, showing them the
spirit and means by which the Almighty
works upon his sons and daughters,
with words of kindness, words of
reason, words of cheer, words of com
fort, words of consolation and the
spirit of inspiration finding its way to
the hearts of men, coming through
kindness, charity and consideration.
But to go out with spirit and desire to
denOunCe, with a spirit 10 find fault,
with spirit to awaken in those whom
we we're addressing, feelings OF com
bativeness, we would not accomplish
the design which God sent US forth TO
promote-the principles OF life and sal
Walton. We would be defeated in re
gard to this matter and become IN
stable by an improper comprehension
of the truths thar God has revealed and
10 those TO whom He designed them to
be proclaimed.
The gospel, as 1t has been revealed
10, ~,
There has been no necessity OF our as
suning, in my judgment, as elders
miniStering among the people OF the
world, the spirit OF aggression, but on
the contrary, we should cherish that
spirit of love, that spirit of charity,
which would inspire a man not to turn
his back upon his home. country and
people, but that which would make
him minister of righteousness among
the human family, and by these means
seek to bring to him knowledge or the
truth which God has revealed, and give
him that spirit that would actuate him
to do works OF righteousness and also
guide and direct him in his ministrationS,
in seeking and searching after the plan
thai would lead men back TO God. Faith
in God. faith in Jesus Christ, faith in
the Holy Ghost, or the Comforter will
enable Us TO establish IN our hearts that
God our Father is, and riyet upon our
souls the knowledge thereof, to bless us,
to lead US Alright and open to our minds
the things Of God and show US proper
comprehension Of the plain and simple
principles and doctrines which He de-
signed we should observe and abound
in. he has distinctly and clearly told
us to be guided by a cody walk and
conversation, that we should not offend
or bring ili-feelIngs upon our brothers
and sisters. who, percbance, might Tot
know and understand the principles
of the gospel as we do, that
our minds may be enlightened
by the influence and power of that
spirit that comes from Our Heavenly
Father.
l myself rejoice in the gospel, of
which our brother has been speaking.
1t is true the people of the world do
not comprehend II. 1t is true that
many IN the world are dscsived in re-
gard to US. 1t is true that many of
them are in doubt as to whether it is
correct or not. They look with won
der upon our position, and they see US
stand, as it were, alone, with the feel
ings of the world directly and in Bit
terness against US. They see we con-